2008 Chevrolet Malibu Classic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE REMEDY. WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION, THERE WAS NO SUPPORT TO MAINTAIN THE STABILITY OF THE KEY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR OVER SIX MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER WAS NOT REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

A SAFETY HAZARD EXISTS DUE TO POWER DOOR LOCKS NOT LOCKING/UNLOCKING CONSISTENTLY ON THREE OUT OF FOUR DOORS OF THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM COULD CAUSE OCCUPANTS, PARTICULARLY CHILDREN IN THE REAR SEATS, TO BECOME TRAPPED DURING AN EMERGENCY. *TR

I HAVE HAD TO DRIVE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM TO RELEASE MY KEY FROM THE IGNITION A COUPLE TIME AND NEVER THOUGHT ANYTHING OF IT, BUT IN JUNE THE BEGINNING THE KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT. SO I CALLED THE DEALER TO FIND OUT I HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH ALONE WITH MY SHIFT THAT COST ME 884.00 DOLLARS. THEY CLAIM NO WARRANTIES. I CALLED CHEVROLET TO FIND THERE WAS RECALL,BUT IT WAS DONE JUST BEFORE I PURCHASE THE CAR IN 2009. BUT IT KIND OF BIZARRE THE KEY WAS STILL GETTING STUCK IF IT WAS REPLACE. IS THERE ANY WAY YOU CAN HELP ME TO RESOLVE THIS SITUATION. I AM CONCERN WHY THIS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACE,BECAUSE IF CONTINUE TO REPLACE WOULDN'T MEAN IT STILL A DEFEAT PART. PLEASE HELP. *TR

I WAS T BONED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING THE WRONG WAY ON A ONE WAY. I THEN WAS SENT UP A CURB 35 MPH HITTING A TREE HEAD ON DRAGGING THE CAR DOWN THE TREE THEN WENT UP A SMALL HILL ALMOST ENDING UP IN SOMEONES PORCH. I PASSED OUT AT SOME POINT. NOT ONE AIRBAG WENT OFF IN MY VEHICLE. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY REQUESTED PICTURES FIRST. I SENT PICTURES OF THE MALIBU AND WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T FEEL THE AIRBAGS SHOULD OF DEPLOYED. I WOULD HAVE TO FIND THE VEHICLE FOR THEM TO CHECK THE MODULE. I FOUND THE VEHICLE AND GM SAYS THE MODULE WAS NOW PUT IN ANOTHER VEHICLE AND I NOW HAVE TO FIND THAT VEHICLE. THIS NEXT PERSON MIGHT NOT LIVE THROUGH A ACCIDENT. WHY WOULDN'T THEY FIND THIS.VEHICLE AND CHECK THE MODULE? MY CAR WAS TOTALED. I WORRY ABOUT THE PERSON NOW DRIVING WITH THIS MODULE IN THEIR CAR! ISN'T THIS THE PROBLEM GM HAS NOW? *TR

THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO MOVE FROM OFF TO START POSITION AND THE GEAR SHIFT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO MOVE INTO GEAR; THIS HAS OCCURRED FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. I CALLED PREVIOUSLY AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN WASN'T PART OF ANY RECALL. I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT GM HASN'T RECOGNIZED THAT THIS VIN ALSO HAS AN ISSUE, BUT JUST HASN'T IDENTIFIED MY VIN OR SENT ME THE INFORMATION. I ALSO HAD TO SPEND $1000 ON ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THIS MALIBU, WHICH I CALLED AGAIN TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND THERE WASN'T. PLEASE CHECK OUT MY COMPLAINTS BEFORE ANOTHER ACCIDENT OCCURS. *TR

I FEEL THAT I EXPERIENCED THE SAME POWER STEERING FAILURE THAT AFFECTED OTHER MALIBUS (AND CHEVROLETS) AND THAT MY REPAIR SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER CHEVROLET SPECIAL BULLETIN #10183. HOWEVER, SOMETHING ABOUT MY VEHICLE'S BUILD KEPT MY VIN FROM BEING INCLUDED IN THE RANGE FOR THIS EXTENDED COVERAGE. I FIRST EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS ON FEBRUARY 13, 2014. MY VEHICLE HAD 97,600 MILES ON IT. AFTER I STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE CAR MADE A DINGING SOUND AND THE WORDS "POWER STEERING"' FLASHED ON MY RADIO INFORMATION SCREEN. I TRIED TO DRIVE A FEW FEET BUT FOUND I HAD NO POWER STEERING ASSIST. I HAD TO STOP AND START THE CAR A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE GETTING POWER STEERING BACK. ON FEBRUARY 16, I EXPERIENCED THE SAME LOSS OF POWER STEERING (AUDIBLE DING, DISPLAY READ "'POWER STEERING" AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING). AFTER RESTARTING, THE ASSIST RETURNED. ON FEBRUARY 19, POWER STEERING FAILED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST TWO MILES OF MY COMMUTE. RESTARTING THE VEHICLE AT A STOPLIGHT SOLVED THE PROBLEM TWICE. AFTER THE FINAL FAILURE THAT MORNING, I DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY WITHOUT POWER STEERING. THAT NIGHT, I WAS UNABLE TO KEEP POWER STEERING FUNCTIONING AND DROVE THE 12 MILE TRIP HOME WITHOUT POWER STEERING. IN ADDITION, WHEN STOPPED AND WHILE DRIVING, MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD MOVE BY ITSELF. THIS OCCURRED RANDOMLY BETWEEN FEBRUARY 13 AND 19. THE AMOUNT OF MOVEMENT VARIED FROM A RAPID SHAKE TO UP TO A 1 INCH SWING FROM CENTER. TOOK TO CHEVROLET DEALER WHICH DIAGNOSED "TRACED TO INTERNAL FAULT IN

I LOST POWER STEERING WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON A SEMI CURVE WHILE RAINING LIGHTLY. THE CAR KEPT GOING TO THE LEFT AND I COULD NOT STEER. I PRESSED BRAKES AND CAR SPUN. I ALMOST HIT A SIGN ON THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THANK GOD NOTHING HAPPENED TO ME NOR MY SON. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS INVOLVED EITHER. THERE WAS A TRUCK COMING ON THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION BUT HE STOPPED. OTHERWISE, WE WOULD HAVE COLLIDED. I GOT ON THE DITCH. I WAS ABLE TO GET BACK ON ROAD AND DRIVE TO NEAREST GM/CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS AND FOUND OUT THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR CONTROL MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR $703 INCLUDING LABOR. THERE WAS A RECALL IN CANADA FOR THE SAME PART (TRANSPORT CANADA RECALL # 2012331: MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER 12221) BUT AS OF NOW I HAVE NOT FOUND THE RECALL IN USA. WHY?? *TR

MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU (PURCHASED NEW) WITH 41,000 MILES. RECENTLY, I NOTICED MY BACK DOOR CAR LOCKS DID NOT WORK. I CALLED THE DEALER AND AM TOLD WE NEED NEW ACTUATORS; NO RECALL AS IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I DISAGREE - PRESSING A LOCK ON YOUR DOOR SHOULD LOCK YOUR DOOR. PLUS WHEN I MANUALLY LOCK THE DOORS, IF AN EMERGENCY AROSE I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO UNLOCK THE BACK DOORS WITHOUT CRAWLING INTO THE BACK SEAT TO UNLOCK. THE DEALER QUOTED A COST OF $250 PER DOOR PLUS LABOR. MY POINT IS - THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN TO ME AND MY FAMILY. I PHONED GM AND AM AGAIN TOLD IT IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN. AGAIN, I POLITELY DISAGREED. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR THE NTSA TO REVIEW THIS ISSUE WITH GM? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONSIDERING MY CONCERN. *JB

WHEN WE PURCHASED THE MALIBU LTZ V6 FULLY LOADED , LEATHER SEATS ALL THE UPGRADED OPTIONS I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING A "EXCELLENT" CAR. I WAS DELUSIONAL ! WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY RADIO, AND COMPONENTS IN THE RADIO SAYING" AUX INPUT DEVICE" AND IT KEPT TURNING ON AND OFF ! I CALLED CHEVROLET IN GREEN COVE SPRINGS FLORIDA AND ASKED THEM ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID IT WAS "NOTHING" IT WASN'T NOTHING ! I WAS TOLD OF COURSE "AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED" THAT IT WAS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM! AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY MORE THEN $3,000 TO FIX IT! NICE GM! BECAUSE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS WIRED INTO THE RADIO SO WHEN THEY RADIO HAS A PROBLEM GUESS WHAT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ? EVERYTHING GOES TO HELL ! ALSO MY MOTORS ON ALL MY DOORS HAVE FAILED AT LEAST ONCE AND NOW BECAUSE MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS GOING MY DOORS OPEN AND CLOSE WHEN THEY WANT TO ! I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MILES AND HOUR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AS IF I HAD NO POWER AGAIN THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG ! THIS IS MY FIRST CHEVROLET AND MY LAST ! I AM TRADING THIS GARBAGE IN FOR A FOREIGN CAR ! PROBABLY A FIAT ! THANK YOU ! GM SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES WE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BAILED THEM OUT AND THEY HAVE CHINA WHO BTW HATES US ! MAKING PARTS FOR OUR CARS ! OMG I JUST LOVE THIS COUNTRY ! *TR

DOOR LOCKS ARE FAILING TO LOCK AND UNLOCK, WITH THE KEY FOB OR, WITH THE INSIDE SWITCH, FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE OR FROM EITHER ONE OF THE THREE OTHER DOORS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS, IF SOMEONE IS ABOUT TO GET ROBBED, RAPED, BEAT UP OR A CAR JACKING IS ABOUT TO OCCUR AND, THE DOOR LOCKS FAILS TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THEN, SOMEONE COULD GET RAPED, INJURED OR EVEN KILLED. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THIS MESSAGE AND TAKE ACTION AGAINST GENERAL MOTORS TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED. I THINK, ALONG WITH EVERY OTHER 08 OR 09 MALIBU OWNERS, THAT GENERAL MOTORS IS USING THIS FOR A "CASH COW" AS THEY TOO ARE UNWILLING TO BUDGE AND DO THE RIGHT THING BY MAKING AND INSTALLING AN UPGRADED LOCKING SYSTEM THAT WILL LAST FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THIS HAS OCCURED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR. WHEN DRIVING, THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON BY THEMSELVES AND YOU HAVE TO TAP THE BRAKES TO GET THEM TO GO OUT. THEN THEY MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT GO OFF AND TOTALLY CANCELS ANY CRUISE CONTROL OPETATION. THERE IS NO ACTUAL BRAKING AND THIS EVEN HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING. THIS LAST TIME, THEY WOULD NOT GO OFF AT ALL AND IT EVEN TRIGGERED A 'SERVICE TRACTION' WARNING ON THE DASH. THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES I TOOK IT IN, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX/DIAGNOSE IT UNLESS IT WAS DOING THIS RIGHT THEN. WELL ANOTHER SHOP FOUND A SAFETY BULLETIN ON THIS ISSUE AND COMPLETED THE RECOMMENDED FIX. THIS WORKED FOR QUITE A WHILE UNTIL NOW AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN. I WORRY ABOUT ANOTHER DRIVER TAKING FAULTY ACTION THINKING I AM BRAKING, WHEN I AM NOT. ALSO IT HAS BECOME A RECURRING SAFETY ISSUE AND I SEE OTHER OWNERS ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE HELP! *TR

THE "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT STARTED TO COME ON WHEN THE WEATHER WAS VERY HOT OR VERY COLD FROM TIME TO TIME STARTING IN 2009. IN THE WINTER OF 2013, THE LIGHT REMAINED ON CONSTANTLY. WHEN THIS WARNING WAS ON, THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS NOT WORKING. EVEN IF SOMEONE WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT, THE LIGHT INDICATED THAT THE SENSOR COULD NOT DETECT A PERSON AND THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. OUR DEALER VERIFIED THAT THE SENSOR WASN'T WORKING AND IF WE GOT INTO A CRASH, THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT WORK. WE FELT THAT THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE DEALT WITH BY CHEVROLET AT NO COST TO US, BUT CHEVROLET CLAIMED THAT SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS, THEY COULD NOT REPLACE IT AT NO COST. WE HOPE THIS REPORT HELPS TO SHED LIGHT ON THE ISSUE, AND IF IT IS COMMON, LEADS TO A RECALL OR VOLUNTARY REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY SENSOR AT NO COST TO CONSUMERS. *TR

WHEN VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT IT MAKES A LOUD CLICKING NOISE LIKE ITS GOING TO BREAK. DOES NOT ALLOW ACCURATE STEERING WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER REAR WINDOWS ELECTRIC SUSPENSION WIRE POPPED AND CAME UNRAVELED AND WINDOW DROPS. FUEL LEVEL RANGE SENSOR DOES NOT PROVIDE ACCURATE READING. ALSO, DISABLED FUEL GAUGE ARM IN DASH (FLUCTUATES). DIAGNOSIS RAN AND SEEMS TO BE NO ISSUE WITH FUEL PUMP. WHILE DRIVING THE ARM BAR THAT KEEPS SEAT LEVEL AND IN PLACE SNAPPED AND SEAT FELL AS VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION (70MPH ON FREEWAY).. VERY SCARY.. SINCE STEERING COLUMN ALREADY FEELS LIKE ITS GOING TO FALL APART. *TR

FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS NOW EVERY TIME I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT IT WANTS TO "JUMP" IT ACTS LIKE IT IS HANGING UP SOMEWHERE. ON 3-2-2013 I GOT INTO THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WASN'T WORKING. I GOT BACK HOME AND SHUT IT OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON ABOUT AN HOUR LATER AND IT WORKED AGAIN. *TR

2008 MALIBU SHOWS "ICE POSSIBLE" AND THEN TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN ENGINE POWER REDUCE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ENGINE STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGH WAY, IN TRAFFIC, WHILE ACCELERATING AND HONESTLY GOING UP AND DOWN HILLS. TOOK TO SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, HOWEVER AFTER REPLACING THE VEHICLE IS STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE THE RECALL ON THE VEHICLE DONE HOWEVER THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE RECALL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ISSUE AND HE DOESN'T KNOW WHY THE CAR IS DOING THAT. I HAVE LOOKED ON LINE AND NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE A RESOLVE FOR THE ISSUE. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A DEFECT AND SOMETHING THAT IS RECALLED IMMEDIATELY AS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

FUEL GAUGE IS INACCURATE RESULTING IN ENGINE CODE AND INABILITY TO PROPERLY MONITOR FUEL LEVEL. POTENTIAL FOR OUT OF FUEL STALLS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED. THE LOCKS ON THE DOORS WERE BROKE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE EXTERIOR BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE LOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED TO COVER HALF OF THE REPAIR EXPENSES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/07/12*LJ UPDATED 08/15/12

MY 2008 CHEVY MALIBU HAS A LOUD CLUNK NOISE WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL SHARPLY EITHER DIRECTION, THIS OCCURS WHILE IN MOTION AND WHEN COMPLETELY STOPPED. I HAVE READ MANY REVIEWS WHERE IT STATES IT IS THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND NEEDS REPLACE. I STILL HAVE 1 YR LEFT ON WAR. BUT TOOK IT TO A DEALER TODAY AND THEY SAID ITS NOT COVERED!! IF GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS WHY HAVE THEY NOT ISSUED A RECALL TO FIT THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM??!! *TR

IN THIS 4 DOOR VEHICLE, THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS APPEAR TO HAVE A DEFECT THAT HAS AFFECTED NUMEROUS VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS EITHER COMPLETELY FAIL OR BECOME INTERMITTENT. THERE ARE TWO PRIMARY SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THESE ACTUATORS FAILING. THE FIRST BEING THAT NOT ALL THE LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHEN VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO DRIVE, GIVING WOMEN OR MEN A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY AGAINST CAR JACKING BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO INDICATION THAT ALL THE LOCKS ARE WORKING OR NOT ON ALL FOUR DOORS. SECONDLY, IMPAIRED PERSONNEL OR PREGNANT WOMAN MAY NOT BE ABLE TO REACH (MANUALLY) FROM THE INSIDE TO THE REAR LOCKS TO UNLOCK THE DOOR DUE TO THE POSITIONING OF THE LATCH TO THE FAR MOST AFT POSITION OF THE VEHICLE. NOR IS THERE A KEY SLOT TO UNLOCK THE REAR OR PASSENGER DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE. THEREFORE, SOMEONE WITH A DISABILITY OR PREGNANCY MAY BECOME INJURED WHILE TRYING TO MANEUVER IN A POSITION TO UNLOCK THE REAR DOORS VIA THE INSIDE LOCK LATCH. A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH OF THE ISSUE REVEALED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT MANY CONSUMERS ARE EXPERIENCING. IN FACT, CHEVROLET RE-ENGINEERED THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FOR NEWER MODELS AND FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS OF OLDER MODELS, HENCE CONFIRMING THE DEFECT. HOWEVER, NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED TO PROTECT CONSUMERS AGAINST A KNOWN ISSUE. THE SAFETY OF VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND OWNERS ARE COMPROMISED BY THIS FLAW. CASE IN POINT, OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR IN AL, THREE MEN ROBBED A MAN AND LEFT THE AREA IN HIS CHEVY MALIBU. ASKIN

ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AT LOW SPEEDS. TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND ON FIXES THE ISSUE. GM ISSUED RECALL FOR OTHER VEHICLES WITH ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING IN MARCH 2010, MY VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED ON THAT RECALL ALTHOUGH IT SUFFERS FROM THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS. *TR